Not the Retiring Type
WASHINGTON -- To retire or not to retire? For most of us, the answer is "Yes." So we work for it, save for it and plan for it. But for many other people, the answer is "No." They have no desire to retire, and instead they look for strategies that will help them avoid retirement.

Blame it on the rain for chilly May retail sales
Rain and chilly weather threw a damper on sales of bikinis and sun dresses last month, leaving many of the nation's retailers with plenty of merchandise to mark down for June clearance sales.

Golden moment eluding Europe
In Italy, an economist working on a government proposal to allow companies to lay off employees in select instances was gunned down in front of his home in Bologna. When the government announced it would move ahead with its plan anyway, unions in April shut down the country in the first day-long general strike in 20 years.

Blue light versus red ink
In the face of all the difficulties Kmart Corp. faces -- bankruptcy reorganization, share price in the cellar, a federal probe of its accounting -- the retailer has launched an all-out campaign to win back shoppers.

Not all dotcoms burst in the bubble
WASHINGTON -- Internet commerce may seem like a puny weakling today, claiming barely 1 percent of retail sales, but top practitioners are flexing muscles that suggest it will grow up to be an industry heavyweight.

Appeals court makes landmark land-use ruling
A state Supreme Court ruling that will cause the destruction of an apartment complex because it violates local building regulations will make Florida developers more cautious because it shows courts will uphold such laws, experts said Thursday.

Condo line
Q- Our new president appoints a board member to chair the building committee with the objective to request all bids from contractors for repairs. The chairperson has his own contracting business. He requests the bids on his company's letterhead and all the bids go to his contractor's office.

Motley Fool
A: Consumer Reports magazine recently offered some tips: Raise the deductible on your homeowner insurance policy and see if any discounts are available for security devices. Every year, check whether your health and auto insurance policies are your best options and whether they meet your needs. Some new discounts may be available, or perhaps your circumstances have changed so that you now qualify for a particular discount. A clean driving record, a good credit score, auto safety features, a short commute and completion of a defensive-driving course can all lower your car insurance premiums.

Make mosaic coasters for dad
Contrary to a popular legend, the tradition of setting aside a special day to honor fathers was not the brainstorm of the greeting card industry. But, it is strange that the first Father's Day recorded in history actually began with Mother's Day. Since its inception, the holiday has evolved to include anyone who acts as a father figure in your life and deserves special recognition.

Money isn't a play thing to young children, authors say
NEW YORK -- Long before they can add and subtract, children know about money. They see their parents put coins into parking meters and take paper money from the ATM, and the plastic card used for substantial purchases probably is on their radar screen.

Blood drive
The June drives for the Blood Bank of the St. Johns include:

Winning the skin game this summer
The summer simmering season is here. The American Cancer Society estimates that 9,600 people will die from some form of skin cancer this year. The No. 1 culprit is overexposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun.

Potty training requires lots of parental patience
Q. My husband and I have noticed that our 16-month-old is standing up to pee in his tub every single night. Also, his bowel movements occur at the same time every day, and he goes over to a corner and buries his face in his hands when he has them. Thinking we should capitalize on this, we bought a potty this weekend. We're not going to push it, but we think it's clear that our "baby" has some awareness of when he's about to relieve himself. We've decided there will be no Pampers "every step of the way" for us, but are we going at this too early?

Pets of the week
We couldn't possibly remind you enough: If you have lost or found a pet, please visit the St. Augustine Humane Society shelter at 1665 Old Moultrie Road first and often. It sometimes takes weeks to find a lost pet!

Volunteer Spotlight
Cathy Brown, volunteer director, knows of several areas in the community which need volunteers. For more information about the Volunteer Center of St. Johns County, contact Brown, 827-1917. E-mail ckbrown@aug.com.

Briefs
The aquatics arthritis sessions have switched to the Ponce de Leon Hotel pool, U.S. 1 North, for the summer. Sessions are held at 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. Call Sybil Kyle, 824-5289, for further information.

COA Menu
The following is the menu for the St. Johns County Council on Aging for the week of June 10-14.

Daytime dial
ALL MY CHILDREN: Although Greenlee seemed hopeful about her relationship with Mary, Leo was suspicious of the older woman's agenda. Mateo worried about Hayley's reaction to the news that the (presumably) late Maria Santos would have been a perfect match for Enzo's transplant. Meanwhile, Arlene prepared to issue a shocking statement to him and Hayley. Anna and David found themselves facing the subject of divorce for the first time. Erica listened in as Ryan came to Chris to plead for Kendall. Anna was shocked to find her nephew, Aidan, in town. Kendall railed at Ryan for revealing her legal strategy to Bianca. Erica opened mail addressed to Chris. NEXT WEEK: Chris makes a confession.

People: Media swarms site of McCartney's reception
GLASLOUGH, Ireland (AP) -- An international media horde gathered Thursday at a remote Irish castle hotel, where the owner announced that Paul McCartney and his fiancee, Heather Mills, would have their wedding reception next week.

Spotlight on the super teens
They may not be faster than a speeding bullet or more powerful than a locomotive, but three area students have been hailed as "super teens" just the same.

Bartram student heading to D.C.
Erin Wilson, a senior at Bartram Trail High School, has been chosen to attend the Presidential Classroom Media & Democracy Program this summer in Washington, D.C.The nation's leading civi

Dancing with dinosaurs at Crookshank
Linda Lundquist's Pre-K class at Crookshank Elementary School participated in a week-long unit learning about dinosaurs.The children tangoed with a Triceratops and boogied with a Brachiosaurus on dinosaur dancing day.The fun-filled week included learning dinosaur facts, making fossils in play dough, playing a math game with dinosaur feet and numbers, creating a dinosaur village, measuring the incredible length of a dinosaur and last, but most fun of all, pretending to be paleontologists and digging for dinosaur bones

Landrum marks its 11th anniversary
During the 2001-02 school year, Landrum Middle School celebrated its 11th anniversary. The school opened its doors in August 1991. Prior to its opening, middle school students attended Ponte Vedra/Palm -Valley Elementary/Middle School, which by the late 1980's was severely overcrowded.

What to get the teacher
Gift ideas: A complimentary letter courtesy-copied to the principal and district superintendent.

When teachers make house calls
WASHINGTON -- Zoe Hall's teacher asked her, the other day, to define some geometry terms she was supposed to know, so the fifth-grader started reciting:

Students in the news
Rebecca Kaplan, daughter of Denise Spurlock, St. Augustine, has earned her B.S. in animal science from Cornell University. She is a 1999 graduate of St. Augustine High School.

Driving is ultimate sign of independence for seniors
LOS ANGELES -- Of all the insults of growing older, losing one's driving privileges can be one of the most difficult to bear. A new driver's license is a symbolic rite of passage from youth into adulthood, but giving up the car keys as physical and mental faculties diminish is a passage of another sort.

Tips for the kids out fishing
1. Fishing isn't just fishing. Kids will need diversions. Fishing parents recommend that you plan other activities for breaks from fishing. Swimming.

Dr. Donohue: Hallmarks of thoracic outlet syndrome
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Twenty years ago, I was told that the numbness in my right arm and hand was caused by thoracic outlet syndrome. The symptoms are now becoming more of a problem. I mentioned the situation to my physician but did not receive much feedback. Any suggestions? -- F.C.

Dr. Donohue: Muscle can change into bone
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My son's thigh collided with another boy's knee some months ago. His thigh hurt and was a bit swollen, but we thought it would get better on its own. Three months later, it still hurt a bit, so we brought him to the doctor. The doctor says his muscle is turning into bone. Huh? We never heard of such a thing. What's the long-term outlook? -- P.P.

National Report
SALT LAKE CITY -- Police searching for a 14-year-old girl reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint said Saturday they have questioned and released a man had they had been seeking earlier in the day, ruling him out as a suspect.

National Report
WASHINGTON -- Both Democrats and Republicans pledged Friday to move quickly toward creating the new Department of Homeland Security sought by President Bush, but challenges were emerging from employee unions and from lawmakers reluctant to give up clout.

Fearful Americans giving Bush wide latitude, strong support
CHICAGO -- There is no sign that an aggressive President Bush, pursuing a threatening, mysterious enemy overseas even as he builds a new security bureaucracy at home, is close to testing the nation's political patience in the U.S. government's war on terrorism.

Kennedy cousin convicted of murdering a 15-year-old
NORWALK, Conn. -- Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel was convicted Friday of beating Greenwich neighbor Martha Moxley to death in 1975 when they were 15 -- a case that opened a window onto a world of privilege and raised suspicions that his family ties had protected him over the years.

Essay expected to be added to SAT: new challenge for students
NEW YORK (AP) -- An expected overhaul of the SAT college entrance exam looks likely to include a handwritten essay, creating a new challenge for college-bound students, a big logistic chore for test administrators and more emphasis on writing in high school.

For The Record
The St. Johns County Democratic Executive Committee is sponsoring a talk by Florida gubernatorial candidate Bob Kunst of Miami Beach at 11 a.m. Saturday at the St. Johns County Public Library on North Ponce de Leon Boulevard.

Old coquina quarries an important part of local history
The old coquina quarries are disappearing a little at a time. As demands for property on Anastasia Island increase, lots with quarry pits become more desirable and valuable. Some of the larger pits serve as lakes that attract residents, but small holes are seen as impeding use on small lots. The remaining quarry pits are indeed historic sites, some opened and mined more than three centuries ago.

Today in history
Today is Saturday, June 8, the 159th day of 2002. There are 206 days left in the year.

Today in history
Today is Sunday, June 9, the 160th day of 2002. There are 205 days left in the year.

Hi-tech game of hide-and-seek
It's an international, Internet hide -and-seek that can make the average person feel like the next Lewis and Clark, with seven treasure troughs hidden in St. Johns County. Geocaching, pronounced geo-cashing, is a new phenomenon that incorporates technical wizardry with good ol' outdoor activity.

Construction under way for Cobblestone Village
Construction is under way on Cobblestone Village at St. Augustine, a 300,000 square-foot shopping center, and a representative for the developer spoke to local business leaders last week about what to expect.

Training tests Florida National Guard's skills, endurance
FORT STEWART, GA. -- Pfc. Daniel King, 20, of St. Augustine, leaned his M-16 rifle against a tree late Monday and wiped his face. "The heat's bad," King said, swatting at a cloud of swarming gnats, "But getting only a few hours sleep a night is worse." Temperatures passed 100 in the endless pine forests that make up this sprawling 225,000-acre base.

Community awards given at luncheon
Col. Joel Bolante knows the value of the juvenile justice system. Employed by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, he has worked with juvenile justice for many years. But, last year, he told members of the Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency (FCCD) on Friday, he learned about juvenile justice from another side. Speaking from "my heart," Bolante said, he expressed deep appreciation for "what you do out there to make this a better place."

City agenda for Monday
The St. Augustine City Commission meets in a special session on Monday at 8 a.m. in the de Aviles room at City Hall, 75 King St.

Rogers' defense presents its case
On the fifth day of Jerry Layne Rogers' murder trial, the defense laid out its case. When Winn-Dixie Assistant Manager David Smith was killed after a botched robbery Jan. 4, 1982, the defense says Rogers was in Orlando. Law enforcement officials also failed at the time to follow up on leads, said defense attorney Matthew Fishbein.

Joyce Conlan Bunting
Joyce Conlan Bunting, 73, St. Augustine, died June 7, 2002 at her home. She was born in West Haven, Conn., and had resided in St. Augustine for the past 13 years. She was a member of St. Anastasia Catholic Church.

Mary McEvoy
Age: 77. Residence: St. Augustine. Died: June 5, 2002, at Flagler Hospital. Born in New Jersey, she was a licensed Real Estate agent and a member of the Protestant faith.

Marshall Neil Jackson
Marshall N. Jackson of St. Augustine was born Feb. 3, 1941 in Clover, S.C. where he grew up on a farm with five sisters and a brother. His parents were Martin Edward Jackson and Edith Bell Jackson, now deceased. He was very active in high school serving as senior class president and full back on the football team.

Brent Dean Calvert
Age: 27. Residence: St. Augustine. Died: June 6, 2002, at Ormond Memorial Hospital. He was formerly employed by Luhr's in St. Augustine and he also worked as a warehouse supervisor at Metal Container in Gainesville. He attended Anastasia Baptist Church. Flowers are declined and those wishing may make a contribution to Prosperity Back, account number 7022064720 for the benefit of his son Jeremy Brent Calvert.

Myrtle B. Eubanks
Age: 90. Residence: St. Augustine. Died: May 31, 2002, at Flagler Hospital. She was a member of St. Cyprian Episcopal Church and a retired nurse's aide with over 35 years of experience.

John T. Strickland
Age: 90. Residence: Hamlet, N.C. Died: June 8, 2002, at First Health Richmond Memorial Hospital. He was born in Leesburg in 1912 and retired in 1975 after 35 years at CSX Railroad where he was a diesel foreman. Memorial contributions can be made to First Baptist Church, 208 Charlotte St., Hamlet, N.C. 28345 or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Joyce Conlan Bunting
Joyce Conlan Bunting, 73, St. Augustine, died June 7, 2002 at her home. She was born in West Haven, Conn., and had resided in St. Augustine for the past 13 years. She was a member of St. Anastasia Catholic Church.

Joy Beth Ripoll
Age: 68. Residence: St. Augustine. Died: June 5, 2002, at the Earl B. Hadlow Center in Jacksonville. A native of Beaumont, Texas, she was a retired mortgage underwriter.

Marshall Neil Jackson
Marshall N. Jackson of St. Augustine was born Feb. 3, 1941 in Clover, S.C. where he grew up on a farm with five sisters and a brother. His parents were Martin Edward Jackson and Edith Bell Jackson, now deceased. He was very active in high school serving as senior class president and full back on the football team.

Bonnie Carol Ward
Age: 58. Residence: St. Augustine. Died: June 2, 2002, at home. She operated a computer repair business in St. Augustine and was a member of Anastasia Baptist Church.

Richard Walter Bayer
Age: 76. Residence: St. Augustine. Died: June 3, 2002, at his home. He was a retired military serviceman of 40 years and employed with the Grumman Company in St. Augustine until 1989. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Way, P.O. Box 625, St. Augustine, FL 32085.

Housing needs to take priority
WASHINGTON -- You could call it the forgotten issue -- except for the fact that in almost every city I've visited this year, from Sacramento to Tallahassee to Boston, the shortage of affordable housing is close to the top of people's concerns.

When Shaq attacks
LOS ANGELES -- Shaq 2, Nets 0. In another display of his massive superiority, Shaquille O'Neal had such a great game that even his free throw shooting was stunning.

Champion Lewis is opposite of Iron Mike
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- His personality is the texture of toast. He offers no foul-mouthed observations on women, children or other innocent bystanders. His even-tempered demeanor would serve him well on a golf course.

Lewis-Tyson spectacle sure to fascinate
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- In both fighters' contracts for the Mike Tyson-Lennox Lewis bout, there is a $3 million penalty for any "onerous" foul that stops the match -- something, for instance, like one fighter biting the other.

Smith leads Buick Classic by one shot
HARRISON, N.Y. -- Chris Smith crashed David Gossett and Loren Roberts' Tennessee reunion Saturday, shooting a 4-under 67 to take the third-round lead in the Buick Classic.

Seminoles, Hurricanes drop openers
TALLAHASSEE --Kris Billmaier had four hits and five RBIs as Notre Dame knocked off Florida State 10-4, ending the Seminole's 25-game winning streak and putting the Fighting Irish a win away from their first College World Series since 1957.

Marlin shows speed at drying Pocono
LONG POND, Pa. -- Sterling Marlin should have no reason to worry about his car not being fast at Pocono Raceway, where the track dried enough Saturday to permit the first NASCAR practice of the weekend.

Shaq takes his game to the next level
LOS ANGELES -- There is no way out, no path that avoids danger, nothing that can save the New Jersey Nets now as they flop haplessly at the feet of a ticked-off titan.

Rookie Johnson is hot on NASCAR circuit
LONG POND, Pa. -- "Neat." With an air of innocence to his responses, Jimmie Johnson kept coming back to that word as he described his introduction to Winston Cup racing.

Flooding gives Marlin Pocono pole
LONG POND, Pa. -- Sterling Marlin got his first pole of the season without turning a wheel when ground water that accumulated over the last week caused cancellation of Friday's qualifying for the Pocono 500.

Jaspers unkind to county athletics
JACKSONVILLE -- The Florida Sports Awards sold out days in advance and rain once again greeted tuxedo-clad guests as they arrived to the Times-Union Performing Arts Center Saturday night.

Elite players skip pre-draft camp
CHICAGO -- The harsh reality of the NBA's just-concluded Chicago predraft camp is that the league's next great one probably was not here. In fact, finding a potential first-round pick among the 70 prospects was difficult at best.

Jaspers has local flavor
The seventh installment of the Florida Sports Awards tonight in Jacksonville will have a distinctively different feel to it.

War Emblem out at third
NEW YORK -- War Emblem's remarkable run for a Triple Crown ended shockingly Saturday, along with his trainer's hope to avenge two close calls, when the colt was badly beaten by 70-1 shot Sarava in the Belmont Stakes.

Justice approves Florida congressional plan
MIAMI -- The Justice Department approved Florida's congressional redistricting plan Friday, finding that the new boundaries do not hurt minority voting power as Democrats claim in two lawsuits.

VA chief wants to use military hospitals in Panhandle
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE (AP) -- Not even a Bataan Death March survivor's plea could extract a promise for a Veterans Affairs Department hospital in the Florida Panhandle, home to more than 1.5 percent of the nation's veterans.

Report: Nation's prosecutors upset over flaws in DUI laws
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Stymied by mounds of paperwork and a lack of accurate evidence, prosecutors trying to convict repeat drunk drivers say they want simple but important reforms to improve the system, according to a new study.

Smokers to court: Uphold $145 billion tobacco verdict
MIAMI (AP) -- Attorneys for the sick Florida smokers who won a $145 billion class-action lawsuit against the biggest U.S. cigarette manufacturers said Friday the verdict should be upheld because it was based on the evidence and won't break any company.

No winner in Mega Money drawing
TALLAHASSEE (AP) -- No tickets matched the four winning numbers plus the Mega Ball number to collect the top prize in the "Mega Money" game, the Florida Lottery said Saturday.

Designs for Florida-themed quarter narrowed to 10
TALLAHASSEE (AP) -- A panel Friday selected and ranked 10 designs for the face of a new Florida-themed quarter meant to reflect the state's environment and history and due to be minted sometime in 2004.

Stat Report
TALLAHASSEE (AP) -- The cost of reducing the number of children in the state's classrooms could cost up to $7.3 billion over the next seven years, according to a financial summary by state economists.

Endeavour docks at space station, delivers new crew
CAPE CANAVERAL -- Space shuttle Endeavour delivered a new crew to the international space station Friday to relieve the three men who have been living aboard the orbiting outpost for the past six months.

World Report
CARACAS, Venezuela -- Amid rumors of another coup plot in Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez called for unity within the armed forces on Saturday and accused the media of trying to provoke a military uprising. Such rumors have become common in Venezuela since April 12, when Chavez was briefly overthrown by dissident military officers. One of the latest rumors was sparked Tuesday, when local television broadcast a video showing ten masked men in combat fatigues claiming to be officers opposed to Chavez' rule.

In divided Himalayan enclave, daily life disrupted by conflict
SRINAGAR, India -- On a traffic-choked commercial street in the bustling heart of the Kashmir Valley's biggest city, paramilitary police swoop in and cordon off several blocks for a security sweep. Business -- along with what had been a chaotic crush of cars and trucks -- grinds to an abrupt halt.

World Report
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistani jets shot down an unmanned Indian spy plane Friday near the tense border between the nuclear-armed South Asian rivals, the Pakistani air force said.

India may move to ease tensions, envoy says
NEW DELHI, India -- The threat of war between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan appeared to lessen further Saturday, with India saying Pakistan was making moves "in the right direction" and Pakistan affirming that "ice has broken." A top U.S. envoy said tensions over the Kashmir region were down "measurably."

Changes dateline from Karmei Tsur
JERUSALEM (AP) -- In a trio of deadly episodes Saturday in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Palestinian gunmen killed a pregnant woman, her husband and an Israeli soldier at a mobile home settlement, while at least four armed Palestinians died.

Hundreds of abuse suits filed since Catholic sex scandal began
At least 300 civil lawsuits alleging clerical sex abuse have been filed in 16 states since January, when the case of a pedophile priest in Boston spurred claims against Roman Catholic dioceses across America, a nationwide review by The Associated Press found.

Two hostages killed, one rescued
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines -- A yearlong hostage crisis involving an American missionary couple came to a bloody end Friday. U.S.-trained commandos managed to save only one of the three captives -- American Gracia Burnham -- and even she was wounded.

The allure of Alsace is multifaceted
EGUISHEIM, France -- Until the wooden gates suddenly swung open, every single half-timbered house evoked the feel of a fairytale, every one of the narrow streets a touch of early Disney.